With years of experience handling hundreds and thousands of pieces of hotel data while working at Rakuten Travel, I know the accomodations industry. I came to realize that, although the accommodation industry was slow to adopt new technologies compared to other industries, it would benefit from the technological progress of servers and web applications, with endless potential for introducing IT to the industry. Since the accommodations industry uses complicated, intertwined systems, it is very difficult for engineers who lack an understanding of the realities of the industry to improve these systems. Our biggest advantage is that, unlike other companies, we can use our past experience working in accommodations and write code as well.

Establishing Sound Relationships Between Companies and Developers

Technologies with potential and businesses with potential are highly compatible and highly effective. This creates a constructive mutually benefit predicated on win-win relationships.

Training Engineers with Suitable Skills and Knowledge

IT’s most fundamental value is its automatic processing. Setting up this automatic processing is done by the human hand. It is the engineers themselves who are entrusted with choosing expression methods that will continue to evolve. Having those who understand the correct methods do the training means engineers can enjoy learning how to think effectively and understand proper code within the company. When maximizing IT, hording technology internally impedes innovation. No compromise is needed when it comes to training world-class engineers.

We must keep up with the latest IT technology

Japan's delay in IT technology

You may have heard that in Japan, IT technology is two to three years behind other most developed countries. Of course, some companies and engineers are very excellent and work on the cutting edge of technology. However, the fact of the matter is that the majority of companies are lagging. On top of that, several Asian countries such as India, Singapore and China are actively engaged in programming and English education. Despite being a developed countr, Japan has a high proportion of people who can neither speak English nor program. Even today, when I am out with non-Japanese friends and business partners, I often hear people say, 'Look, a foreigner!' According to the 'Survey on Recent Trends and Future Estimates of IT Human Resources,' announced by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2016, it is anticipated that human resources in the IT industry will run short approximately 369,000 people in 2020, when, incidentally, programming education will become compulsory at elementary schools. It is also estimates that in 2030, this number will increase to 789,000 people.

Developing countries boast high IT technology despite lack of infrastructure

While the quality of a certain Sri Lankan e-commerce site itself is very high, it is often uncertain whether products ordered from the site will ever be delivered because the country lacks infrastructure. It is also uncertain if money can be transferred properly between the customer and the website. There are a host of reasons for this. The roads are not paved. Electricity is not well-established. The internet is unstable and the fees are too high. As a result, people use the site to browse the products, then the seller and buyer actually meet in person to make purchases and sales. There are engineers, but the infrastructure is lacking.

We should expect more from Japanese IT

Despite Japan having one of the world's highest levels of infrastructure, there is an overwhelming lack of engineers. I believe that this is influenced by delayed English education and a unique Japanese culture that dislikes change. On the other hand there is a very good 'Zen' culture in Japan, as it is said that Japan is the only country where a lost wallet will almost always return to the owner with the money intact nearly every time. During our economic boom, there were many Japanese companies that gained universal esteem for their high quality products, high technical skills, and hospitality.

Always be aware of world standards and make progress every day

It is a given that, in this environment full of opportunities, we continue to pursuing the latest IT technology. In the IT industry, where good things are perpetually changing, we are in constant pursuit of world-class technologies and advancement, regardless of the conventional wisdom in Japan.

A new hotel tool is coming

We will deliver the latest information on ELMETRIX and ELSOUL software.